Allen Hurns, an American wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys National Football League, dislocated his left ankle in Saturday’s win over the Seahawks. The injury happened in the first quarter of the Dallas Cowboys’ 24-22 wild-card win against the Seattle Seahawks.  Hurn’s left leg was twisted as he was tackled by Seahawk Bradley McDougald on a 14-yard catch. Very similar to Gordon Hayward’s ankle injury.

His foot was deformed and he laid on his stomach on the field, writhing in pain. The players quickly cleared the area to allow space for medical staff to put a splint on Hurns’ leg.

An x-ray showed a broken fibula.  In accordance with most of the posts on our site he also got the obligatory MRI (athletes seem to get them for everything).  It’s not clear that an MRI provides useful information in this setting. He had surgery the same night while the game was still underway. This type of injury is routinely treated with plate and screw fixation of the fibula.  In many cases the ligaments are repaired on the inside of the ankle as well. It takes at least 6 months and likely more towards a year to be ready for high level athletics again.